One of the Harlem Globetrotters' "Clown Princes of Basketball" went to great lengths — no, make that great heights — inside the Mall of America to promote his team's appearance later this week in the Twin Cities.

With a high-pitched "weeeeeeeeeeee!" 6-foot-8 Zeus McClurkin flung himself down the Nickelodeon Universe's zip line toward the basket far below Sunday and took aim from well beyond the NBA's standard for a three-point shot.

McClurkin also sank shots during Sunday's video hijinks from the Ferris wheel and from the edge of a gangplank high over the floor below.

Through the wonders of video, McClurkin's experience was captured by a GoPro that accompanied him and a nearby videographer. The compilation was then posted Wednesday on YouTube, with the team's signature "Sweet Georgia Brown" theme song as an audio backdrop.

Eric Nemeth, who shot nearly all of the video, said McClurkin "was surprisingly accurate" and kept the do-overs to a minimum.

He sank his third attempt from the Ferris wheel (not spinning), but "his follow-through blocked my shot," so he ended up hitting on two of nine attempts from that ride, Nemeth said.

Terry Sauer, Star Tribune

Most challenging for McClurkin was the zip line, Nemeth said, nailing a swish within 10 tries. "Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, bye-bye!" he said upon one takeoff.

From the edge of the gangplank, nearly 60 feet overhead, McClurkin needed no more than five or six attempts, Nemeth said.

The shooting exhibition was staged before stores opened, "but some miscellaneous walkers were there that we had to wait for," Nemeth said.

The Globetrotters put on various stunts ahead of their shows at many of their stops. In San Francisco, one team member on a boat shot at a basket on the shore of Alcatraz Island.

From more reasonable heights, the Globetrotters take to the court Friday night and Saturday afternoon at Target Center. For ticket information, visit: http://www.harlemglobetrotters.com/full-schedule.

Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482